This Code of Ethics applies to all Town officials after the effective date of these procedures.
This Code of Ethics becomes effective on June 30, 1993.
The Town Clerk shall cause a copy of the Code of Ethics to be distributed to every public official and employee of this Town within 30 days after enactment. Each public official and employee engaged thereafter shall be furnished a copy at the time of his/her appointment or election.
If the application of this chapter to any person or circumstance is found to be invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the other provisions or applications of this Code of Ethics.
A. 
Professionalism. Public officials and employees shall demonstrate dedication to effective democratic local government and shall commit to a belief that professional administration is essential to the achievement of this objective.
B. 
Integrity. Public officials and employees shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity and honesty in all public activities in order to inspire public confidence and trust in Barnstable's local government.
C. 
Interest in contract or transaction. No public official or employee shall perform or participate in an official act with regard to a transaction in which he or she has an interest.
D. 
Gifts. No public official or employee shall accept from any person involved in any transaction with the Town any present or future gift in excess of $50, or thing of value, as an inducement for an official act or action. Any such gift shall be conclusively presumed to have been accepted as an inducement for an official act or action unless accepted for and promptly surrendered to the sole use and benefit of the Town.
E. 
Disclosure of information. No public official or employee with respect to any transaction which is or which is reasonably expected to become the subject of an official act or action shall, without proper legal authorization, disclose confidential information concerning the property, government or affairs of the Town or use such information to advance the interest as defined above of such public official or employee or his or her family members.
F. 
Appearances. No public official or employee and no member of any agency, board, committee or commission shall appear on behalf of any private person or business entity, other than himself or herself or a family member, before any Town agency, board, committee or commission.
G. 
Merit-based decisions. Public officials and employees shall manage all personnel matters on the basis of merit so that fairness and impartiality govern the Town's decisions pertaining to appointments, pay adjustments, promotions and discipline. No appointment to or employment in any Town position shall be dependent on political activity.
H. 
Political activity. No employee shall be required to engage in any political activity as a condition of employment. Employees should refrain from participating in the election of members of the Town Council, and from all partisan political activities which would impair performance as a professional administrator/employee.
I. 
Discrimination, fraud, and mismanagement. Public officials and employees are encouraged to eliminate all forms of illegal discrimination, fraud, mismanagement of public funds and to support colleagues if they are in difficulty because of responsible efforts to correct such discrimination, fraud, mismanagement or abuse.
J. 
Information. Public officials and employees shall respect and protect the privileged information to which employees have access in the course of official duties.
Any public official or employee who has (or whose family members have) an interest in a transaction which is the subject of an official act or action shall disclose on the record of the agency, board, committee or commission which performs such official act, or to the Town Manager in the case of employees, the nature and extent of such interest.
All members of the Town Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals shall file a Statement of Economic Interest with the Town Clerk annually at such time as shall be established by the Town Council. Such statement will be a form as shall be approved by the Town Council (upon recommendation of its Rules and Ethics Committee) and provided by the Town.
It is recognized that no written code of this nature can provide specifically for all possible contingencies. Any questions regarding the propriety of any transaction or the proper interpretation of this Code of Ethics may be brought to the attention of the Town Attorney at any time. The Town Attorney shall maintain a record of all hypothetical and actual instances considered under this Code of Ethics which shall serve as a guide for future compliance with and enforcement of this policy. The Town Attorney shall, consistent with his responsibilities under the law, maintain confidentiality in said consultation and shall exercise his responsibilities as appropriate.
In order to augment these provisions, public officials and employees are encouraged to refer to Chapter 268A of the Massachusetts General Laws, the International City/County Management Association Code of Ethics, the American Society of Public Administration's Code of Ethics, and ethics guidelines offered by other professional associations to which either public officials or employees belong.